Means for preventing accidents.



A. J. MEIER. MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1909. 9%,58?

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET? A. J. MEIER. MEANS FOR PREVENTING AOOIDENTS.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

J. MEIER. MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

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UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT a. MEIER, or GLENDALE, MISSOURI.

MEANS FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 24, 1909. Serial No. 519,350.

-T abhor/ it may concern.

it"kiiown that I. Ammn'r J. Minna, -a citiaei .ofrthe United States, residing at Gleii'dal'e'fin the county of St. Louis and State, of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Preii enting Accidents, of which the following is a specification, reference. being bad therein to. the accompanying drawings;

The object of this invention is to prevent accidental death or mutilation of persons en iployed adjacent to machinery. lVhile the following" description deals more particularly with machinery which in operation endangers workmen-s fingers and apparatus for insuring the safety of the fingers of workmen, yet, muzat-z's matam'l-is, this invention can be applied to any kind of machine and'is' adapted to preserve workmen from all kinds of accidental injury arising from contact with the moving parts of machinery near or in connection with which theirwork is performed.

The invention resides in the 1)].0YIS1OI1 of accident-prevcntlng means, and further nov- -elty will be found in the apparatus for that which the operator is in danger of mutila V purpose, of which the preferred form and some" alternative forms. are herein shown anddescribed. which apparatuses are adapted' to be attached to any kind of machine in y t ion or other injury.

.I the drawings forming part of this specification, like numbers of reference de- IFi-gu-re 1118 a perspective view ofa machlnc. 'e iu'p1 )ed' fw1th a rotary form of an elecnot like parts wherever they occur, and

tri price for the above-mentioned purpos s. 2 and 3 are partial elevations of a .11 inc equipped with alternative forms -1' of thesame device Fig. -1 is a perspective view of a machine equipped with a sliding fornrof such an electrical device; Figs. 5,

6,7, 8, and 9 are detailviews of the electrical forms of the device.

.The power press 1. depicted in F 1, 2,.ta nd 3, is provided with the operating shaft 2, upon which'is mounted the eccentricii, which actuates the tool-carriage 4, and with the-table 5, to which the die (notshown in the. drawings) is secured. The foot-leverfi, fulcrumed at? to'said press, operates, by means of connecting rod 8. a

clutch (not shown in the drawings) adjacent to the band-Wheel mounted on said h ft, nd, when depressed, causes the actlr .nected thereto.

ation of said tool-carriage. A finger-saving device is secured to one end of said shaft 2 by the pin 10, which is in threaded connection with said shaft and is provided with the enlarged portion 11, which fits against the extremity of the end of the'shaft 2. Loosely mounted on said enlarged portion is the brush-holder 12, which is made of a, non-conducting material and to which is secured the metal rod'12 by the nuts 14. The

wire 15 is attached to one end of saidrod by the nut 16, and the other end of said .is provided with a metal segment 25, which encircles said pin 10 and extends to the periphery of said disk. The set nut 26 holds said disks against said enlarged portion 11 on said pin 10 and permits, when loosened, said disks to be adjusted independently of each other, whereby the length of metallic surface in the periphery of said disks exposed tocontact with-brush 17 can be increased o-r diminished. The operator stands upon the plate or sheet of metal 27 when he presses the foot-lever 6, said lever being pro- ;vided with an insulated tread 28. The wire 29 is connected to said plate and, also, to

constantly-driven magneto 3O 01' any other suitable generator. and wire 15 is, also, con- If the operators hand or other part of his body touches any part of .the machine except the foot-treadle 28, he

will receive a shock.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, the wires 15 and 29 are connected to the battery 31, and

are, respectively, connected to said brush 17 and the bell which is secured to said machine and connected thereto by the wire 33. In Fig. 3, said wire 15 connects said brush and the plug 31, which is connected by wire 29 to the lamp 35, secured to and having an electrical connection with said machine. Said plug is adapted to be insorted into a light socket (not shown in the drawings) Patented Feb. 21,1911.-

For machines in which the rotary form of the electrical device would be inapplicable, a slidable form of same is provided, in Whichthe metal contact 36 is secured by the bolts 37 to the brackets 38, which are formed of non-conducting material and are secured to' the machine 39 by the screws 40, as shown inFigs. 4 and 8, in'which adrop-hammer and anvil 44 are depicted for the purpose of connected. to the floor-plate 27 by the wire 29. Said floor-plate 27 extends partly around the base of said machine.

If it isnot desirable for the.operator to receive a shock, when operating a machine equipped with the slidable form of the device, above descri ed, a signaling device can be provided as in the rotary formyi. 6., a bell or a lamp can be secured to the machine and operated in the same manner when the circuit is closed by, said brush 41 engaging said slide 36.;

In the modified form ofthe electrical de vice shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the brush-holder is formed of a plate 63, of non-conducting material. to which the brush 17 is secured. Each disk 24 is provided with a metal spoke 64-. which engages said pin 10 and is provided with a sector 65, which forms a portion of the periphery of said disk, to which the adjusting rod 18 is secured by the bolt 66.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When operating the type of machine shownin Fig. 1, the operator will'stand on plate 27 in front of the machine, in order to press the foot-lever 6, after placing the material to be worked on the die secured to the table 5. The pressing of said foot-lever causes the rotation of the operating shaft 2, which actuates the eccentric 3, whereby the toolcarriage 4 is forced to descend and cause the tool carried thereby to cut, form. or work the material on the die .on said table. The rotation of the operating shaft 2 causes the disks 24 to rotate/therewith and the metallic portions of the peripheries of said disks to engage brush 17, which is electrically connected by wire 15 to the magneto 30. Said brush isso adjusted by the rod 18 that the segments 25 engage same after the starting 'of the machine, and said disks are so set as to cause said segments to remain in engagement with said brush until the moving tool has engaged the material to be worked, or until just previous thereto, or during any other danger period. Should .the operator fail to remove his hand from thematerial on plate 27, and he would receive a shock, which The metal brush 41 is secured,

'terial.

the die on table 5, or if he should havelhis hand in any dangerous position'on the, machine after starting saine, his body would close the electric circuit generated by the magneto 30, between the machine 1 and the would cause him, immediately to withdraw his hand from its dangerous position, and prevent the probable mutilation thereof. The insulated tread 28 on said foot-lever prevents the current from passing through the foot of the operator when operating the machine. a y

In the type of machine depicted in Fig.4, the operation of the drop-hammer causes brush 41 to .engage contact 36, and the operator will receive a shock while standing on the plate 27 if his hand is in a dangerous position on the machine after same has been put into operation.

When it'is necessary to hold the material to be worked in the machine, the electrical form of the device in which the operator receives a shock might be objectionable, and a means of signaling the operator, after the machine is put in operation, is provided in Figs. 2, 3 In Fig. 2, the signaling form of the deviceis the electric bell 32, which is rung when the circuit is closed by said segments 25 engaging'said brush 17, and, in Fig. 3, the lamp 35 is lighted in the same manner, thus warning the operator in time to remove his hand from a dangerous position before the moving tool engages the ma- Various changes in t-hedetails of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention herein disclosed and defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1'. The combination of a power machine having opposing work members, and having a rc voluble drive member, a support secured to said member, abrush-holder mounted on said' support. a brush secured to said 110 brush-holder, and a disk mounted on said support and engaging said brush,.saidbrush and disk being "adapted to close an electric circuit when said opposing work members 7 are brought into close relation..'

2. The combination of a machine havin 'i' opposing work members, and having a re\ o luble drive member, a support secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith, a brush-holder mounted on said support. a 120 brush secured to said brush-holder. and a disk mounted on said support andlengaging said brush, said disk and brush being adapted to close an electric circuit when said work members approach one another.

3. The combination of a machine having "opposing work members, and having a revov luble drive member. a support secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith, a brush-holder loosely mounted on said 39 sup ort, a brush secured to said brushhol er, a disk mounted on said supportand engaging said brush, and means for ad usting said brush-holder, said disk and brush being adapted to intermittently close a circuit. I

4. The'combination of a machine having opposing work shaping members, and hav ing'a revoluble drive member, a support secured to said member and adaptedto rotate therewith, a; brush-holder loosely mounted on said support, abrush secured to said brushholder, an adjusting rod secured to said brush-holder and said machine, and a disk mounted on said support and enga ing said brush, said disk and brush being a apted to cl'osean electrical circuit through the machine.

5. The combination of a machine having opposing work shaping members, and having" a revoluble' shaft member adapted to reciprocate oneof said members, asupport secured to said member, a brush-holder mounted'on said support, a brush secured to said brushholder, and a plurality of disks mounted on said support and engagingsaid brush, said brush and disk'being adapted to close an I electrical circuit when said moving member is reciprocated toward the opposite work member.

6. The combination of a' machine having coacting work- 'shaping members, and having a revoluble member adapted to cause sa d work shaping members to coact, a

metal support secured to said member and.

adapted to rotate therewith,,-a non-conducting member mounted on said support, a con work members approach one another.

' 7. The combination of a machine having coacting work shaping members, and having a revoluble member adapted to. cause said work shaping members to coact, a metal support secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith; a non-conducting member mounted on said support, a conductor secured to said non-conducting member, and an insulated conductor secured to said support and adapted intermittently to engage said first-mentioned conductor whereby an electrical circuit is closed when said coacting work members approach one another.

8. The combination of a machine having coacting work shaping members, and having a revoluble member adapted to cause said work shaping members to coact, a metal support secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith. a non-conducting member mounted on said support, a conductor secured to said non-conducting member, and a plurality of insulated conductors secured to said support and adapted intermittently. to

' engagesaid first-mentioned conductor Whereby an electrical circuit is closed when said coacting work members approach one another.

9. The combination of a machine having coacting work shaping members, and having a revoluble member adapted to cause said work shaping members to coact, a metal support secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith, a non-conducting member mounted; on said support, a conductor secured to said non-conducting member, a fiber disk secured to said support and engaging said conductor, and a conductor-secured to said'disk and adapted to engage said support and intennittent-ly'to engage said first- 1nentioned, onductor whereby an electrical circuit is closed when said coacting work members approach one another.

10. The combination of a machine having coacting Work shaping members, and having a revoluble member adapted to cause said work shaping members to coact, a metal support secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith. a non-conducting member mounted on said support, a conductor secured to said non-conducting memher, a plurality of fiber disks secured to said support and engaging said conductor, and each of said disks having a conductor secured thereto. said last-mentioned conductor being adapted to engage said support and intermittently to engage said first-mentioned conductor whereby an electrical circuit is closed when said coacting work members approach one another.

11. The combination of a machine having coacting work shaping members, and having a revoluble member adapted to cause said work shaping members to coact, a metal s'upport secured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith. a non-conducting member mounted on said support. a conductor secured to said non-conducting member, a fiber disk secured to said support and engaging said conductor, a segmental conductor secured to said disk and engaging said support, said segmental conductor being adapted intermittently to engage said first-mentioned conductor, means for generating an electric current, a plate adjacent said machine. means for connecting said first-mentioned conductor with said generating means. and means for connecting said plate with said generating means whereby. when said coacting members approach one another a current is set up through the circuit described.

12. The combination of a machine'having coacting work shaping members, and. having a revoluble member adapted to cause said work shaping members to court. a metal support s cured to said member and adapted to rotate therewith, a non-conducting memis set up through the'circuit described.

a 13. The combination of means for generating an electric current, a machine "havillg; coacting work members and having a rev'oluble member adapted to cause said fork members to coact, a finger-saving de- "IG-e secured to said revoluble member .-and llijving an electrical connection with said generating .means,'. an electric signaling means secured to said machine and having an electrical connection with said generab ing means. and said finger-saving device be ing adapted intermittently to open and close the circuit, whereby said signaling means is energized.

14. The combination of means for genera-ting an electric current, a machine having a movable member, a conductor secured to said 'machine'and insulated therefrom, a

conductor secured to said movable member and adapted to engage said first-mentioned conductor, a plate adjacent to said machme, and sald first-mentioned conductor and said plate being, each. connected with saidgenerating means whereby, as said movable member is actuated the circuit described is energized.

15. The combination of means for generating an' electric current, a machine having a reciprocably slidable member. a metal slide secured to said machine and insulated therefrom, a conductor secured to said movable member and adapted intermittently to engage said slide. aplate adjacent said machine. and said slide and said plate being, each, connected with said generating means whereby. as said slidable member is reciprocated, the circuit described is energized.

16..A device for preventing accidents,

comprising, in combination with a machine having coacting work members and means for causing sald members to cooperateyua circuit adapted to include the operator and including said machine, a current source, and means actuated by said machine .for

closing said circuit.

17 A device for preventing accidents,

comprising, in combination with a machine havingcoacting work members and means for causing said members to cooperate, a make and break means earned by said driving means and actuated'thereby', said make and break means being located in a circuit including a current generator and a ,con-

tact plate, and adapted to include the oporator. I v

18. A device for prevent ng accldents.

comprising, in combination with a machine having coactingwork members and means for causing said members toycooperate, a rotatable make and break means carried by said driving means and actuated thereby,

said make and break means ,being located in a circuit lncludmg' a current generator and a contact plate, and adapted toinclude the operator.

19. A device for preventmg accidents, comprislng, in combination with a machine having coacting work members and means' for causing said members to cooperate, a make and break devlce mounted upon the driving means and adapted to'be rotated "thereby. means for adjusting said make and break device. said make and break device beinglocated in a circuitincluding a current generator and a contact plate, and adapted to include the operator.

20. A device for preventing accidents, comprising, incombination with amachine having coacting work members and means for causing said members to cooperate, means actuated by said machine to send an electrical shock through the operator of the machine by energizing said machine, in circumstances of dangerousproximity of said operator to said coacting work members. a

21. A device for preventing accidents, comprising, in combination with a machine having coacting work members and means for causing said members to cooperate, means actuated by said means for actuating the work members to send an electric shock into the body of an operator by electrically energizing said machine.

'22. A device for preventing 'accidents, comprising, in combination with a machine having coacting .work members and means for causing said members to' cooperate, means actuated by the means for causing the work members to cooperate, to send in- I termittent signals to the body of an opera.- tor by causing said machine to conduct a current of electricity.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. MEIER.

W'itnesses i GEORGE G. ANnERsoN, GLADYs lVALToN. 

